$2,200 No Limit Holdem Main Event Day 1b | 2009 PokerNews Cup Australia

10-03-2009 16:09 UTC+10

Play Slows

[user92162]

Play has slowed a little as we approach a break.

10-03-2009 16:14 UTC+10

We were a little confused when we observed Mark Vos sitting at the seat that was previously owned by Tony G.

Vos is known for his pranks, so at first we thought he was up to something, but a quick double check of the starting list showed that Vos was indeed a late arrival and was recently moved from a far table to the seat which Tony G has apparently recently departed.

Tags: Mark Vos Tony Guoga

10-03-2009 16:23 UTC+10

Dunst Dents Lechich

[user67765]

Tino Lechich opened to 525 from middle position with Tony Dunst calling from the cutoff and the big blind player coming along for the ride to see a flop of {9-Hearts}

.

The big blind checked to Lechich who fired 1,125. Dunst made the call as the big blind moved out of the way.

The turn was the {3-Clubs}

and Lechich fired again for 2,500. Again Dunst made the call.

They checked the river {2-Hearts}

and Lechich flipped {8-Hearts}

but Dunst took it down with his {J-Spades}

.

Dunst moves up to 35,000 with Lechich slipping to 12,000.

Tags: Tino Lechich Tony Dunst

10-03-2009 16:23 UTC+10

Break

[user67765]

The players are now taking their second ten-minute break of the day.

Level: 5

Blinds: 150/300

Ante: 25

10-03-2009 16:34 UTC+10

Play Resumes

[user67765]

The players are back and the cards are in the air once again.

10-03-2009 16:38 UTC+10

Monsterdong Takes One Out And Chip Lead

[user92162]

Jonathan Karamalikis has just hit the front of the counts after taking out an opponent in a 40,000 chip pot.

All the money went in on the {A-?}

flop with the opponent holding {A-?}

against Karamalikis' {10-?}

. The board bricked out and the opponent was off to the rail. Karamalikis moves up to 87,000.

10-03-2009 16:44 UTC+10

Recent Eliminations

[user92162]

Andrew Meldrum has been eliminated after running his {2-Hearts}

into the

of Manny Stavropoulos.

The board ran out {6-Clubs}

.

At a table nearby Ben Invelito also hit the end of his tournament sooner than he would have liked.

Tags: Andrew Meldrum Ben Invelito Manny Stavropoulos

10-03-2009 16:57 UTC+10

Thomas Chips Up

[user67765]

Brent Thomas is following up his good form from the Melbourne Championships with another strong showing here today.

We recently caught him in action in a big pot against Party Poker qualifier Gabriel Alarie. The board read {3-Hearts}

and Thomas had fired 5,000 as Alarie sat in the tank.

"Two pair?" questioned Alarie, but he didn't get a response and decided to fold. Thomas chips up to over 45,000 chips.

Tags: Brent Thomas Gabriel Alarie

10-03-2009 17:02 UTC+10

Vakili's Great Call Goes Unrewarded

[user67765]

Sometimes making a great call is only half the battle, as you need to also survive Lady Luck to rake in the chips. This is something that Reza Vakili knows all too well following this recent hand.

Catching the action on a flop of {6-Diamonds}

and with around 14,000 in the middle, a player on the button moved all in for around 11,500. Vakili delberated for several minutes before deciding to make a big call.

Vakili: {5-Spades}

Button:

It was a huge call by Vakili as his bottom pair was enough for the lead over his opponent's ace-high.

That's when disaster struck...

The turn was the {10-Clubs}

and river the {6-Hearts}

and suddenly Vakili's pair had been counterfeited and the ace kicker of his opponent played! A cruel blow to a great call, leaves Vakili with his starting stack of 20,000 chips.

Tags: Reza Vakili